Autoblog

The Pagani Zonda is on its way to supercar heaven, due to be replaced by Horacio Pagani's next masterpiece, currently code-named the C9. To send off the current Zonda in style, Pagani is working on the Zonda R, limiting production to ten examples with a price tag of €2,000,000.

Despite looking very similar to the Zonda F and its predecessors, the R only shares ten percent of the outgoing model's underpinnings, and instead, gets a sleek new shape that's 47mm longer, providing even more downforce through the use of a longer splitter, rear defuser and wing.

Pagani has released four new renderings of its all-carbon fiber coupe, and according to Autoblog.it (no relation), Pagani won't be using the 750-hp, 7.3-liter Mercedes mill, instead opting for the 6.0-liter AMG V12 putting out similar hp and torque. Five road-going versions are planned, while the remaining five will be limited to circuit duty. We're hoping to finally see the Zonda R in person sometime next year, likely at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show.


[Source: Autoblog.it]

Volkswagen's high-performance plans for the new Golf will spawn three new models, beginning with the new 210 hp GTI set to debut in Paris and go on sale in the middle of 2009. According to Automotive News, the Mk. VI GTI will sprint to 60 in a tick above seven seconds and hit a top speed of around 150 mph.

A performance-oriented diesel Golf, dubbed the GTD, will hit the market in April, putting out around 170 hp from its common-rail diesel, while a range-topping R model, available through Volkswagen Individual, will be churn out 270 hp, send power to all four wheels and will be equipped with an aero package that includes a "black gleaming diffuser." Sales of the R version will begin in November of 2009.


[Source: Automotive News – Sub. Req.]

You can make a car that accelerates. You can make a car that brakes. You can make one that handles. One that corners. One with a high top speed. But to make one that does it all is a different story entirely. That's why automakers go to the Nürburgring. Its northern loop is twenty-two kilometers of twists, turns, dips, straights, chicanes...even a carousel. And it's got a new champion.

The Pagani Zonda F recently lapped the track that claimed Lauda's ears in a scant 7:27:82, edging out the previous ruler, the Porsche Carrera GT (which it also rivals for carbon-fiber content in its construction). The Zonda's hot lap shaved a mere two milliseconds off the Carrera's time, but those are two milliseconds the German supercar evidently couldn't muster on its own home track. How embarrassing, ja?

The specific model that hit the high time was a Clubsport version, which itself will be trumped by the even more extreme Zonda R before designer Horacio Pagani goes back to the drawing board for the Zonda's successor.

[Source: Motor Authority]

Here at Autoblog our philosophy on early childhood education – yes, we have a philosophy on early childhood education – is that no age is too young to begin teaching the little ones a love for cars. That's why we love featuring kids' toys like Automoblox and slot car racing sets, along with the grown-ups' toys we report on daily, and often behave like little children ourselves. Or at least that's how we justify it to our own kids.

The latest comes courtesy of Honda, who've realized that even the children deserve a shot at getting in on the JDM scene by offering this special Type R child seat. Unfortunately it's only available (at the moment) in Japan, which makes sense when you consider the local availability of the four-door Civic Type R sedan, which has the space to drift the kids around Tokyo.

Related post:

• Recaros for your kiddos

[Source: Carscoop]

In the world of modern Italian exotic supercars, a surprising share of the field has stemmed from one car: the Ferrari Enzo. It is in and of itself one of the best performing cars of all time, shattering previous records and nearby windows in the process. But it didn't stop there: the Enzo had offspring. Most recently, the 599 GTB Fiorano got its engine from the Enzo. Before that came the Maserati MC12, which itself bred road, race and track versions, as well as the show-stopping Birdcage concept car. Then Ferrari turned out the FXX program, something of an "Enzo Evo".

German tuning house Edo Competition didn't like that the FXX was out-performing the first ever 200-mph Maserati and has set out to rectify the situation by giving the MC12 the "FXX treatment". This isn't the first time Edo has tinkered with the limited-edition MC12, having created the MC12 R previously. But whereas that program netted a more modest 70 horsepower increase – by no means something to scoff at considering how high-strung the engine is already – the new MC12 XX boosts power by 170hp to match the FXX's 800hp rating.

[Source: Edo Competition and World Car Fans]

According to AutoTelegraaf, a loose-lipped V-dub employee spilled the beans that the German automaker is developing an R-badged high-performance version of the Touareg SUV. Unlike current gas-powered R variants such as the R32 Golf and upcoming R36 Passat, the R-badged Touareg will likely be based on the 4.9L V10 TDI model. Motor Authority reports that aftermarket tuners have gotten this engine to produce upwards of 625 ft-lbs. of torque and 365bhp, which bodes well for this SUV's potential. According to VW's naming convention, the new model will likely be called the R50. In terms of appearance, it's thought the R50 will resemble the R-line Touareg (shown) that can be built by outfitting your SUV with parts from the VW Individual customization program. Unfortunately, there's no word on whether this speculation includes the U.S. as a possible market for the R50. Currently, we're only promised the presence of the R32, which isn't even here yet (you can preorder one of the 5,000 earmarked for the States here), so chances are the R50 is not in our immediate future.

[Source: AutoTelegraaf via Motor Authority]

When Volvo releases their new V70 sedan and wagon, customers won't get the choice of a hotted-up version sporting an 'R' on the boot lid. Volvo decided that the T6 provides adequate thrust for the Swedish saloon and, contrary to rumors, won't be equipping the V70 with the Yamaha-developed 325 HP V8, found in the XC90.

However, since Volvo normally limits its R-badged offerings to two, the lack of a V70R and the discontinuation of the S60R will allow other vehicles to benefit from some of the power and handling tweaks associated with the moniker.

The first on the list is a C30R, likely equipped with all-wheel-drive and 250 HP, so it can bring the pain to the A3s and GTIs that populate that hot hatch segment. The second offering may be an S40R, whose engine bay was specifically designed to fit the 281 HP, T6 engine.

The last possibility is a S80R, which may come equipped with a 4.4-liter V8, however the transmission currently available might not be up to the task of handling close to 400 HP.

One dark spot in the Autocar article is the idea that the R badge may be nixed altogether. We doubt it, but time will tell.

[Source: Autocar]